Cabinet approves draft of 'Ansar Battalion Act, 2023'

The Cabinet on Monday gave the final approval to the draft of 'Ansar Battalion Act, 2023' with a provision of the death penalty as the maximum punishment for committing different crimes, including mutiny and provocation for rebellion.

The approval came from the Cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the city with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. 

"As per the draft law, there will be two courts to run the trial proceedings of the internal crimes of Ansar battalion members. One is 'Summery Ansar Battalion Court' to be headed by an additional director and another is 'Special Ansar Battalion Court' to be headed by the director general of the Ansar," Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain said while briefing reporters at the Secretariat this afternoon after the meeting. 

Trials of serious crimes like committing mutiny, inciting rebellion, creating ground for revolt and engaging in conspiracy will be held in the 'Special Ansar Battalion Court', he said, adding that the maximum punishment for such crimes would be death penalty. 

Besides, trials of other serious crimes related to the punitive provisions ranging from life imprisonment to minimum five years of imprisonment will be held in the special court, the cabinet secretary said, adding that in the law there are provisions for lodging appeals against the verdict and the convicted by these courts could appeal to the President. 

The cabinet, earlier, approved the draft law in principle in March this year.

/MHK/